Engineers Investigating Origins Of Bay Bridge Joint Fires

Caltrans engineers are investigating the cause of two fires this week in an expansion joint on the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge, a spokeswoman said today.

The fires, one this afternoon and one Monday night, both started in an expansion joint in the eastbound lanes of Interstate Highway 80 just east of Treasure Island, according to the California Highway Patrol.

A fire coming from beneath the bridge and up through the expansion joint into the roadway was first reported on Monday around 10 p.m. near the Treasure Island exit.

The blaze, quickly extinguished, blocked two lanes of traffic for around an hour. A second fire was spotted just after noon today, with lanes reopening around 1:50 p.m.

Caltrans spokeswoman Leah Robinson-Leach said the fires damaged the rubber seal on the joint, which protects it from debris and saltwater, and repairs will be needed. However, the damage has not created any safety hazards for drivers, she said.

The fire’s cause remains under investigation.

“It was initially thought there was a possibility of a cigarette being the cause, but that’s highly unlikely now,” Robinson-Leach said.

Caltrans has not yet determined when repairs on the seal and joint will take place, she said.

--Bay City News/Shutterstock image